Pro Sports Blogging » Sean Neumannhttp://www.prosportsblogging.com
24/7 Real Sports TalkThu, 26 Feb 2015 04:06:23 +0000enhourly1http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2This is Not a Wrangler Ad, Bretthttp://www.prosportsblogging.com/2010/01/25/this_is_not_a_wrangler_ad_brett/
http://www.prosportsblogging.com/2010/01/25/this_is_not_a_wrangler_ad_brett/#commentsMon, 25 Jan 2010 04:12:33 +0000Sean Neumannhttp://sportstalkbuzz.com/this_is_not_a_wrangler_ad_brett/Brett, You Would Have Been Better Off Running Out of Bounds Five turnovers is murder, especially when two of them are in the red zone and could have given you a 14 point lead in the fourth quarter. What's worse is when you are in field goal range some moron is in the huddle who [...]]]>

Brett, You Would Have Been Better Off Running Out of Bounds

Five turnovers is murder, especially when two of them are in the red zone and could have given you a 14 point lead in the fourth quarter. What's worse is when you are in field goal range some moron is in the huddle who isn't supposed to be. Seriously, can anyone count? And please, Adrian, I know you have problems with fumbling, but you muffed a simple handoff. You know, that little thing you do hundreds of times a year where the quarterback hands you the ball? How about you spend the next five months carrying a football everywhere you go treating it like a newborn baby? Do we need to surgically implant glands in your hand that secrete stickum? Why does someone with a build like a Leonardo sculpture have problems carrying a football?

I also love pass interference calls when the ball is six feet over the receiver's head and the defender doesn't touch him until the ball is going past his body. Great call, ref. Especially in overtime, you blind dummy. Oh, and let's hear it for overtime being essentially decided by a coin flip. You know what's awesome? Brett reenacting a touch football game in his real comfortable jeans and flipping the ball to some nickel back with 19 seconds left on the clock. I want to put bricks through 14 Samsungs at Sears tonight.

Watching that game was painful. The Vikings rolled up over 500 yards of offense and dominated the clock, but kept putting the ball on the turf flatly giving the game away. You freaked Reggie Bush out and were 20 feet from the end zone and you put the ball on the ground. Adrian, should we start calling you Brent McLanahan? What was sickening was seeing a club that turned the ball over 17 times all season do it five times against a team they thoroughly outplayed.

I have to give it up to the Saints for not just hanging in there, but focusing on two things: Beating the living hell out of Favre and going after the ball every time Peterson touched the ball. Every play had at least five pass rushers and every time Peterson ran someone was wrenching at his arm. So, a team that has been known for being the crappiest in the history of football was more resourceful and heady when they had to be and they are going to smoke Indy in two weeks.

But you know what? If you took the Vikings today, you beat the spread. Eat me, Vegas.

]]>http://www.prosportsblogging.com/2010/01/25/this_is_not_a_wrangler_ad_brett/feed/0Last Minute Thoughtshttp://www.prosportsblogging.com/2010/01/24/last_minute_thoughts/
http://www.prosportsblogging.com/2010/01/24/last_minute_thoughts/#commentsSun, 24 Jan 2010 23:06:15 +0000Sean Neumannhttp://sportstalkbuzz.com/last_minute_thoughts/But First, an Ode to Dallas I am still feeling joy from the Dallas game. The Cowboys play in an edifice worthy of symbolizing the Supreme Court ruling recently handed down that essentially provides corporations with the same free speech protections you and I receive as individuals as well as free reign to dump even [...]]]>

But First, an Ode to Dallas

I am still feeling joy from the Dallas game. The Cowboys play in an edifice worthy of symbolizing the Supreme Court ruling recently handed down that essentially provides corporations with the same free speech protections you and I receive as individuals as well as free reign to dump even more cash into election ads. Similarly, Jerry Jones and the NFL want you to think that not only are the Cowboys America's Team, but more worthy of the state of Texas' tax dollars than public schools and hospitals. Considering the arrogance and ignorance of Dallas fans for the last 30 years, their incessent whining about their losses to the Steelers back in the 70s, and their flippant joke about the hole in Texas Stadium existing so God can watch his favorite team play, I took special glee in Favre – who was tormented by the Cowboys during their run in the mid 90s – tacking on a little extra special sauce at the end of last week's game. If anything, that was the football gods trying to tell Jerry Jones he is being punished for having a glorified defensive coordinator as his head coach and a total wimp and choke artist as his quarterback.

Anyways, today will be a special in New Orleans. Cold, hard logic tells me that the Vikings are the far superior team across the board. The Saints have the most dynamic offense in football, but the Vikings have a defense, which is something the Saints are sorely lacking. Sentiment is clearly on the side of New Orleans considering that huge swaths of the city are still decimated and rotted out, but the Saints are the best they have ever been in the team's 43 year history. However, even with the noise, you're dealing with Brett Favre and the best running back in football in Adrian Peterson. Whereas the Saints have the most accurate quarterback in football – if not ever – the Vikings have Favre who doesn't care how much he's liked or hated at this point. That sort of willful disregard is a most dangerous and useful weapon. And no, it doesn't translate into reckless play, it leads to focus and utilizing 19 years of professional experience. Seriously, Favre knows the offense he's running better than the coaches do making the Vikings unquestionably his team in every sense of the word.

The primary thing I keep hearing from people is how loud the Superdome will be. Not about how Jabaru Green can handle percy Harvin one on one or how Darren Sharper will be able to cut off Sidney Rice's post routes. Instead of hearing about how Jonathan Vilma and Sedrick Ellis will disrupt Peterson's running lanes and cutting off his holes, I am hearing about how a bunch of drunks are going to rip the roof of the Superdome and rattle, ahem, Brett Favre. Seriously, what have you people been drinking?

Okay, I'll get to the point: This is not going to be some runaway by either team. Considering that both offenses are capable of hanging 40 points on the likes of Baltimore, can adjust their gameplans if one aspect is taken away, and are resourceful enough to exploit minute weaknesses in any defense, I expect it to be inside the spread, hence why I am taking the Vikings. I simply do not see the Vikings being rattled by the noise or the moment or the emotion because the guy under center is the one they take their cues from, not the dummy with the beard on the sidelines.

The key for the Saints revolves around utilizing Reggie Bush properly, protecting Drew Brees, and isolating Jasper Brinkley – who is filling in for the injured EJ Henderson. The Vikings will bring an incredible outside rush and are capable of clogging the middle thanks to the Williams Wall. If Brees is kept upright, if Antoine Williams is still a half step off, and if the Vikings actually kick the ball to Bush, the Saints win. If the Vikings establish the run, keep Brees off the field and hit him often when he is on it, and are able to execute their play action game to perfection, they win. It's as simple as that.

Vikings 41 Saints 38

]]>http://www.prosportsblogging.com/2010/01/24/last_minute_thoughts/feed/1This is the Matchup Everyone Wantedhttp://www.prosportsblogging.com/2010/01/23/this_is_the_matchup_everyone_wanted/
http://www.prosportsblogging.com/2010/01/23/this_is_the_matchup_everyone_wanted/#commentsSat, 23 Jan 2010 05:56:55 +0000Sean Neumannhttp://sportstalkbuzz.com/this_is_the_matchup_everyone_wanted/And yes, the Vikings are still more balanced than the Saints On Thurday night, Brad Childress said that Brett Favre sees things during a game that even coaches miss. You know that means? It means the Vikings are humming a beautiful harmonious tune and on their way to the Super Bowl for the first time [...]]]>

And yes, the Vikings are still more balanced than the Saints

On Thurday night, Brad Childress said that Brett Favre sees things during a game that even coaches miss. You know that means? It means the Vikings are humming a beautiful harmonious tune and on their way to the Super Bowl for the first time since 1976.

Two months ago, I would have said the Cowboys would have been smoked. Last week the Vikings did just that. Frankly, the little extra touchdown pass from Brett Favre to rub it in a little didn't bother me in the slightest. During the glory years of the early 90's, Dallas did that sort of thing with regularity. Actually, all superior teams in the NFL do it. Karma, schmarma; just win and win big and let everyone know you're going to keep playing to the final gun. Let's just say that America's Team and the most arrogant owner in the NFL, Jerry Jones, just got a taste of what it's like to end a hot streak that was based on playing the Eagles and catching the Saints flat-footed. Also, screw Dallas. Rooting for that team is like rooting for Coca Cola and Bechtel.

The Saints are a whole different animal though. Top to bottom, the Saints are dangerous any way you look at them. They are talented, motivated, and more importantly, fast. On offense, it's hard to find a team that possesses more speed and agility across the board. They have a three-headed monster in the running game, the best quarterback in football, and a set of receivers that can blaze through a secondary like a California wildfire gobbling up houses in the canyons. As a team, they are resourceful, nuanced in their gameplans, and peaking in the playoffs as opposed to week 17. However, they have serious problems on defense.

Okay, so the Saints have Jonathan Vilma and Darren Sharper on defense. That's great, but seriously, will they be able to shut down Adrian Peterson? Regardless of how many yards he gets, Peterson will touch the ball 25 times no matter how many or little yards he gets. He's money in the bank, especially in the red zone. To think that the Saints can counter the weapons the Vikings have on offense versus the sort of pressure Jared Allen can do by himself is pure folly. The more I think, the more I know that a three point spread is stupid because beating the Cardinals meant putting the brittle Kurt Warner on the turf. Beating the Vikings means neutralizing not just Favre, but Peterson, Rice and Harvin. And don't start with the migraines because Harvin will play, so good luck.

The Cowboys went into Minnesota as the hottest team in football and left whining about an extra score. The Saints are the sentimemtal favorites because Brees gets tons of press for picking the only team that would give him a decent contract coming off of a horrendous shoulder injury and his connection with a town that is down and out. The reality is that the Vikings don't just boast, but bring a defense that can matchup with any offense in the NFL on a good day and keep them competitive on a bad one. Where Reggie Bush looked like Gayle Sayers a week ago, he will look like Terry Metcalf this week. Where the Saints destroyed the Cardinals porous pass protection, they will be facing the best offensive line they have seen all year as well as the best play action quarterback and audible caller in the game. Sorry Peyton, for all your histrionics, Favre has you beat in spades.

There is no way the Saints pull this off unless Favre turns into Cliff Stoudt and Peterson becomes John Brockingham circa 1975. No way. Take the Vikings and the points because it will be Favre versus Manning in the Super Bowl.

]]>http://www.prosportsblogging.com/2010/01/23/this_is_the_matchup_everyone_wanted/feed/2This Should End Well?http://www.prosportsblogging.com/2010/01/07/this_should_end_well_/
http://www.prosportsblogging.com/2010/01/07/this_should_end_well_/#commentsThu, 07 Jan 2010 21:24:10 +0000Sean Neumannhttp://sportstalkbuzz.com/this_should_end_well_/Or Maybe Not. Don’t read too much into the live scrimmage the Vikings held against the Giants last week. That was more of a chance to pad stats and maybe work on some new wrinkles in their schemes than it was a test or even a game because the Giants quit on their season weeks [...]]]>

Or Maybe Not.

Don’t read too much into the live scrimmage the Vikings held against the Giants last week. That was more of a chance to pad stats and maybe work on some new wrinkles in their schemes than it was a test or even a game because the Giants quit on their season weeks ago. So, even though they ended the season on a relative high note, the Vikings concern me because I still get the impression head coach Brad Childress has serious brain damage. You’re pissed because Brett Favre has the nerve to make as many as five audibles in a game? Even when they are spot on correct? Seriously? Are you insane? Are you 12-years-old?

Apparently this isn’t the first time Childress has howled like a stubborn old woman when a quarterback has gone off script. Everyone from Gus Freotte to Brad Johnson has told various reporters that Childress leaves quarterbacks out of the game planning process and simply locks them into particular play calls while forbidding them to audible at the line of scrimmage. Now, to be fair, I would not want Tavaris Jackson audibling ever, but if Brett Favre and his 19 years of running this very brand of offense is at the helm, I probably bend my rules more than a little.

Face it, Brad, you received your five-year extension this season because Favre executed the offense to perfection. Without him, the Vikings are no more than a 9-7 team and threatening to pull him because you need to assert your authority is both childish and unprofessional. Remember, you flew down to Mississippi to convince this guy to come play for you. You went through the entire Favre saga and drama and histrionics so you could have a legitimate chance at a Super Bowl knowing full well you were getting a guy with not just a big ego, but a Super Bowl ring and actual, functioning knowledge of your offensive system. You in essence hired on another coach and made him a borderline equal, and instead of utilizing him that way and, well, being flexible, you want to treat this guy the same as Gus Freotte and yank him when you’re up 7-6?

Good luck with that.

What’s more, according to some of the stories being reported in the press, Childress has been throwing temper tantrums through the team’s season-ending skid including an epic blowup in Carolina that some players likened to a parent berating a teenager. Great job, Brad; if players are mockingly calling you “dad” they’ve tuned you out.

I had a very long conversation with a former All Pro and Super Bowl-winning center a few months back. One of the things he spoke at length about was how ridiculous professional coaches behave. “They all think that if they just outwork the other guy and put in 15 or 18 hours of work every day they will win, but how can they outwork each other when they all do the same thing?” he said. “The best part is when they start screaming and yelling and tipping over tables. They forget that they’re dealing with men who are already professionals and know how to do their jobs. When we won our Super Bowls it felt like it was in spite of our coaches sometimes.”

You hear that Brad? You are not a visionary, a genius, or a leader of men. You are a facilitator and a manager, so develop some people skills and act like you know what you’re doing. Otherwise, the playoffs will end very quickly and very badly.

]]>http://www.prosportsblogging.com/2010/01/07/this_should_end_well_/feed/1Why Do You Make Me Cry Brett?http://www.prosportsblogging.com/2009/12/22/why_do_you_make_me_cry_brett_/
http://www.prosportsblogging.com/2009/12/22/why_do_you_make_me_cry_brett_/#commentsTue, 22 Dec 2009 22:27:55 +0000Sean Neumannhttp://sportstalkbuzz.com/why_do_you_make_me_cry_brett_/Tailspin or Just a Speed Bump? Three weeks ago the Vikings were on cruise control to the playoffs. Brett Favre was looking better than he had in 10 years, the defense was clicking, and the division was all but clinched. But in the last three weeks the Vikings have dropped games by wide margins to [...]]]>

Tailspin or Just a Speed Bump?

Three weeks ago the Vikings were on cruise control to the playoffs. Brett Favre was looking better than he had in 10 years, the defense was clicking, and the division was all but clinched. But in the last three weeks the Vikings have dropped games by wide margins to the Cardinals and Panthers on the road and Favre and head coach Brad Childress have been bickering to the press and behind closed doors while the offense has moved away from focusing on Adrian Peterson and deteriorating into a typical Favreathon mess of winging it on the fly and ignoring the game plan. That has resulted in backing into a division title and suddenly going from quietly winning a ton of games to loudly dropping two of three while the coach has a semi-nervous breakdown in public because he finally seems to realize he's not in charge.

Not that that's any surprise really, but Childress should think about a couple of things before he starts spouting off to the press about pulling Favre or even considers benching him to prove a point. First off, he brought this on himself. He knew full well what he was getting into when he took a private plane down to Mississippi to convince Favre to come to Minneapolis. He knew all about Favre's penchant for changing plays at the line of scrimmage, veering from the game plan, and stubbornly doing things his way. He must have calculated the risk of brining in a guy who likes to freelance and make his own rules against the option of having either Sage Rosenfels or Tavarus Jackson quarterback a team that could still go to the Super Bowl.

As for his locker room tirades, ESPN and the St. Paul Pioneer Press are reporting that players are basically not taking Childress seriously. Anytime a coach chews his team out and players find it entertaining or compare the coach to a parent scolding a teenager, you know that the players are more than likely tuning the guy out. Whatever authority Childress had was abdicated the day he decided to bring in a strong personality like Favre, especially since it's pretty obvious that he can't, nor should he try to, control him. In essence, Favre has the situation and Childress by the balls. Pulling Favre with anything except a huge lead or a huge deficit essentially defeats the purpose of having him in purple in the first place. If the idea was to pull him because the division is clinched, okay, but to pull him because you're having some stream of consciousness idea that it might be a good idea because Julius Peppers is beating him up but it's not really his fault but maybe it's a good idea to yank him, or whatever, comes off as weak. If you want to pull him because you're down 20 and the division is clinched anyway, then pull his ass and tell him you need him for the playoffs. But pulling him with a 7-6 lead and the guy is all heated up? Way to take any wind you might have had out of your sails. You just signaled you were willing to pull your best guy in a tight game, dummy.

Childress is in a tough place because the accepted orthodoxy is that coaches are in control and quarterbacks take orders, which is almost patently stupid because every working situation is different. Anyone calling for the benching of Favre should have their head examined, but Favre does need to remember that just a couple yards behind him in the backfield is the best running back in football, Chris Johnson notwithstanding, and get him the ball. Play action has become a rarity with the Vikings and Favre is spending more time trying to make things happen than letting the game come to him.

Oh, did I mention that EJ Henderson is hurt and Percy Harvin might have two bulging discs in his neck?

Awesome.

]]>http://www.prosportsblogging.com/2009/12/22/why_do_you_make_me_cry_brett_/feed/0Okay, Can We Has a Mulligan?http://www.prosportsblogging.com/2009/12/09/okay_can_we_has_a_mulligan_/
http://www.prosportsblogging.com/2009/12/09/okay_can_we_has_a_mulligan_/#commentsWed, 09 Dec 2009 01:45:45 +0000Sean Neumannhttp://sportstalkbuzz.com/okay_can_we_has_a_mulligan_/I was warned, but I didn't listen … My friend Eric said that sooner or later the Vikings would have a game like this. You know, one where Favre starts playing a little pitch and catch and starts tossing the ball to nowhere in particular while the team just loses it in general because the [...]]]>

I was warned, but I didn't listen …

My friend Eric said that sooner or later the Vikings would have a game like this. You know, one where Favre starts playing a little pitch and catch and starts tossing the ball to nowhere in particular while the team just loses it in general because the gods of football have some sort of bias against a team dressed in purple. Maybe so, because Kurt Warner apparently was compelled by the power of Christ to lead the Cardinals to the sort of victory that makes pundits all over the country call them a serious playoff threat and remind us that they were in the Super Bowl last year because we're all suffering from post-concussion syndrome and forgot.

Save for Larry Fitzgerald mocking my mocking and running roughshod over anyone who got in his way, the Vikings made sure to literally give the game away by becoming so enamored with Favre's magical numbers that they throw more than they pass, making them less reliant on Adrian Peterson thus less dangerous. Remember when everything about the Vikings potential success revolved around working off of Peterson and letting Favre manage games and control the tempo? Well, veering away from that model and going all out with the pass obviously brought some success, but it bit them in the ass when they faced a well-prepared and hungry team in the Arizona desert.

After fumbling away their opening drive, the Cards essentially dominated the game on offense. And whenever the Vikings were able to mount a drive, they would commit some stupendous blunder or find themselves facing a Cardinals defense that seemed to know exactly what they were going to do. On the whole, it was a gruesome day, but not one without a silver lining.

Should the Vikes realize that they cannot have throw the ball 35-times a game, they might go back to getting Peterson 25-30 touches per game so they can achieve more balance. They are still the most complete and balanced team in football, but for them to take advantage of all their weapons, they have to deploy them better, otherwise it's going to be more repeat performances like this one.

]]>http://www.prosportsblogging.com/2009/12/09/okay_can_we_has_a_mulligan_/feed/0Fumbles Mean Nothing When You’re Up 30 Pointshttp://www.prosportsblogging.com/2009/12/03/fumbles_mean_nothing_when_you_re_up_30_points/
http://www.prosportsblogging.com/2009/12/03/fumbles_mean_nothing_when_you_re_up_30_points/#commentsThu, 03 Dec 2009 20:53:42 +0000Sean Neumannhttp://sportstalkbuzz.com/fumbles_mean_nothing_when_you_re_up_30_points/Hai Vegas So, let me get this straight, Adrian Peterson is the best running back in football, but he fumbles too much and that means that Arizona has a shot this Sunday? Seriously? Is the entire sporting press smoking crack? Have they gone into utter self-delusion? Are the bookies in Vegas begging us to take [...]]]>

Hai Vegas

So, let me get this straight, Adrian Peterson is the best running back in football, but he fumbles too much and that means that Arizona has a shot this Sunday? Seriously? Is the entire sporting press smoking crack? Have they gone into utter self-delusion? Are the bookies in Vegas begging us to take their money? Minnesota is favored by two? Really? Thanks, I'll be flying in first class and dropping 20 grand on Minnesota. Afterwards, I'll run around telling everyone “that's me!” just like Jimmy “The Greek” Snyder.

The Vikings just thrashed Chicago, the team that everyone, including me, thought was going to charge out of the gate and win 13 games on general principal. True, their line is old and porous and they are missing their two best defensive players (Brian Urlacher and Pisa Tinoisamoa) thanks to season-ending injuries, but the Vikings just made them look like a pee wee team. It's not so much that the Bears are a suck, but that if you gang up on Peterson, Favre can have his pick of Bernard Berrian, Sidney Rice, Percy Harvin, or Visanthe Shiancoe on any given play. It's not so much a matter of pick your poison, but a matter of the Vikings being able to look like they have 13 men on the field at any given time.

And the Cardinals, with one of the worst defenses in the NFL is supposed to be able to keep them within two points? Really? With Kurt Warner seeing faith healers to cure his umpteenth concussion and Matt Leinart still learning how to play, I just don't see how that will make Larry Fitzgerald the difference maker.

Seriously, the odds maker has to be Rex Ryan's drinking buddy.

]]>http://www.prosportsblogging.com/2009/12/03/fumbles_mean_nothing_when_you_re_up_30_points/feed/0It’s a Traphttp://www.prosportsblogging.com/2009/11/27/it_s_a_trap/
http://www.prosportsblogging.com/2009/11/27/it_s_a_trap/#commentsFri, 27 Nov 2009 23:31:04 +0000Sean Neumannhttp://sportstalkbuzz.com/it_s_a_trap/Or Maybe Not Sometimes it's really hard to tell when a team is walking into a potential disaster, however, playing the Bears shouldn't be. Months ago I was screaming from the rooftops that the Vikings should have traded for Jay Cutler ensuring a string of 12 and 13-win seasons for the next eight to 10 [...]]]>

Or Maybe Not

Sometimes it's really hard to tell when a team is walking into a potential disaster, however, playing the Bears shouldn't be. Months ago I was screaming from the rooftops that the Vikings should have traded for Jay Cutler ensuring a string of 12 and 13-win seasons for the next eight to 10 years. Instead, Minnesota ignored my expert advice and coaxed Brett Favre out of retirement. With last week's dismantling of the injured and rebuilding Seahawks, they have firmly established themselves as the most complete and balanced team in football. Don't believe the hype coming out of New Orleans and Indy, the Vikings are loaded at every position and save for two incredibly lucky turnovers in Pittsburgh, have outplayed and outclassed by leaps an bounds every one of their opponents. They are the best tea in the NFL, and with Favre leading the best all-around offense in football (sorry New Orleans), he should be the league's MVP because even though the Colts would have three wins without Manning, Favre is doing it at 40. Sorry, Peyton, the greay beard should get it this year.

Anyways, this week should be no different for the Vikes since the Bears are skidding past mediocrity and heading straight to the outhouse. Cutler has overthrown a few receivers and has almost no supporting cast, so in spite of village idiots like Melissa Isaacson taking the popular view that Cutler is basically a failure, he's still dangerous even though two weeks before blamed the team's failure on the defense. My read is that his problems have been more the result of his having to do too much as opposed to too little. When you “best” receiver is a converted corner because you have basically no one else, you're in trouble. I figured Cutler would be able to lift the Bears to 13 wins because of their incredible defense and his being able to find a few more open guys than Kyle Orton. However, they suck because, let's face it, they lost their best defensive player and quickly went down the tubes. Seriously, losing Brian Urlacher has been far more of a negative influence on them than Cutler because ever since Urlacher went down, the whole load has been put on Cutler who has less personnel to work with than Elway did in 1985. Just be patient, Chicago fans, when you get healthy on defense and get some receivers, just see what happens and don't listen to your sports columnists. They are dumb.

As for the Vikings, they seem to get more confident every week. Not cocky, but sure of themselves. Last week against Seattle, Tavaris Jackson was taking snaps in the third quarter, so it's safe to say the Vikings do not play down to the level of their competition. This week will be no different. Jared Allen is going to be facing off against Orlando Pace, who is a first ballot Hall of Famer, but is nowhere near the player he was with the Rams meaning that Cutler is going to have tons of pressure on his blindside thus putting him on his backside more often than not.

If the Vikings stay true to form, Brad Childress and Favre will be working a balanced attack that the Bears will have a ton of problems matching up with. Minnesota's receivers are not only fast, but they're incredibly skilled and have built a quick rapport with Favre which has resulted in an astounding 21 touchdowns through the air. This is not an accident, and when you factor in Adrian Peterson having 999 yards and 11 touchdowns on the ground, it's not hard to see why these guys have been virtually unstoppable. The Vikings don't run trick plays and don't rely on simply getting a linebacker out of position, they do what has worked for winning teams for the last 50 years: Dictate the tempo, keep the defense guessing, exploit their strengths by creating as many options for themselves as possible, and consistently executing. To stop the Vikings right now you have to be at your best and play a disciplined brand of football, something the Bears are far from doing meaning the Vikings will win by probably two touchdowns.

]]>http://www.prosportsblogging.com/2009/11/27/it_s_a_trap/feed/0They Covered 16.5 Points? Sweethttp://www.prosportsblogging.com/2009/11/16/they_covered_16_5_points_sweet/
http://www.prosportsblogging.com/2009/11/16/they_covered_16_5_points_sweet/#commentsMon, 16 Nov 2009 10:04:17 +0000Sean Neumannhttp://sportstalkbuzz.com/they_covered_16_5_points_sweet/But then again, it was Detroit. It's almost unfair, but it could have been a lot more because Adrian Peterson fumbled on his way to another touchdown. I mean, it's not like Detroit was ever really in it, but the fact that Vegas is making the Vikings such heavy favorites in games like this is [...]]]>

But then again, it was Detroit.

It's almost unfair, but it could have been a lot more because Adrian Peterson fumbled on his way to another touchdown. I mean, it's not like Detroit was ever really in it, but the fact that Vegas is making the Vikings such heavy favorites in games like this is both a little confounding, lovely, and a little scary. The Vikings have never in their entire history been known as a team that closes other clubs out. Usually they are known for putting up huge regular season numbers and getting everyone's hopes up before pooping the bed in championship games.

Remember the 1969 season and Super Bowl IV? Probably not since a lot of you were in diapers or not even born, but those Vikings had an incredible defense and an offense that slogged through the mud and had no answer for Hank Stram's jet-age Chiefs. How about 1973? Oh, yes, Francis Tarkenton was back from New York and Chuck Foreman was a spry, young rookie, but the Vikings were tight and the Dolphins walked on them like a rug. 1974 was a bit better, but because Bud Grant was too stupid to do anything but slam Chuck Foreman's face into the strong side of the Steelers' defense. As for 1976, I love that the Vikings had as much talent as any club that ever played the game, but because Bud Grant was really good at neutering his players with his militaristic bullshit and crew cuts, the Vikings got eviscerated by a Raiders team that bragged about using only three basic defenses going into that game.

Don't get me started on 1998 because Dennis Green is as insane as he was innovative. Besides, that year seemed as though fate pre-destined John Elway to have a chance to rub a Super Bowl win in Dan Reeves' face. I'll just be irrational and say the gods of football said the Vikings would have to wait another 10 years.

Well, I think this could be it as long as Favre is healthy. I mean seriously, does anyone really question who has final call on what plays are run? I mean, it's pretty obvious that the offensive staff has limited Favre's exposure to the sort of wild shenannigans he ran in his last years in Green Bay and last year in New York, but this is what happens when you have Adrian Peterson to rely on. I have been saying it for months: the Vikings are the NFC favorite to go to the Super Bowl as long as he's healthy.

Sooner or later, New Orleans is going to drop one or two. They almost got beat by St. Louis (as we would have had the Rams been able to actually utilize their chances in the Red Zone) and while they have been winning ugly, they have looked vulnerable. Either way, I like the way things are going only because this is the first Viking team in history that doesn't seem to know the franchise was the original Buffalo Bills.

Let's just hope they keep forgetting that.

]]>http://www.prosportsblogging.com/2009/11/16/they_covered_16_5_points_sweet/feed/0Gee, What a Shockhttp://www.prosportsblogging.com/2009/11/03/gee_what_a_shock/
http://www.prosportsblogging.com/2009/11/03/gee_what_a_shock/#commentsTue, 03 Nov 2009 09:38:22 +0000Sean Neumannhttp://sportstalkbuzz.com/gee_what_a_shock/My day is made This should come as no shock, but Favre is still really good and as a friend of mine pointed out, Brett has a little Roger Clemens in him and really doesn't give a shit what you or anyone else thinks. That's why he was able to dissect the Packers like a [...]]]>

My day is made This should come as no shock, but Favre is still really good and as a friend of mine pointed out, Brett has a little Roger Clemens in him and really doesn't give a shit what you or anyone else thinks. That's why he was able to dissect the Packers like a dead frog. What was even less surprising was Favre swaggering onto the field as if he still owned the place even though he was being lustily booed and called names not to print in a publication as high-minded as this one.

What I especially loved during the broadcast was Troy Aikman's retarded observation that no one won in the Favre/Green Bay divorce. No kidding, Troy. Especially since Ted Thompson apparently didn't know what everyone else in America knew: That Favre will keep coming back until he can't walk anymore. Yeah, yeah, I kknow we weren't in the room with Thompson when Favre probably cried and said he oculdn't do it anymore, but still, let's pretend we're grown ups for a minute and understand that people say shit that they don't mean all the time.

“I love you.”

“I swear officer, I only had two drinks.”

“We didn't touch the pension fund.”

“Matrix Revolutions is a fine film and Keanu Reeves is an incredible actor.”

“I am retiring (sniff, sniff) as quarterback of .”

Seriously, Favre didn't fool anyone except Thompson, who was right to want to hand the reins over to the talented and younger Aaron Rodgers, but obviously didn't plan very well for the succession because the Vikings just sacked him 14 times in their last two meetings. Oh, did I mention that the Packers vaunted switch to the 3-4 just turned to rancid cake frosting because Favre just lit them up for seven touchdowns in two games. Where's your God, Fritz Schurmer, now?

What I especially love about this whole drama is that for weeks and weeks and months and months every sports writing moron from Los Angeles to Portland, Maine has been speculating about Favre's negative effects on the lockerroom, Favre's diminished skills, Favre's age and possible health problems, his elbow, the tides, whether or not having Cancer rising in Sagittarrius is going to affect Favre's Alpha waves and cause Adrian Peterson's knee caps to fly off.

Get over it, the Vikings are now officially the best team in football. Eat me, New York Giants, you just got whupped by an Eagles team that lost to Oakland. Oh, hai, Indianapolis. Would you like to try running at the Williams Wall? Pittsburgh? Puhlease. Two flukey turnovers won you that game. Bring your sorry asses to neutral site so you can feel the full wrath of Favre's revenge as he lays waste to the NFL in a scorched-earth strategy that would make Ghengis Kahn proud. Better yet, he's doing it with a boyish grin and playing like a grown man who took all that bullshit written about him damaging the Packers and being a selfish bastard to heart. Watch in awe as Favre makes all of your lives a living hell for daring to besmirch his name after he left pieces of his body on fields from Dallas to Pittsburgh (thanks, Pete Gent) for your enjoyment.

Hey, Green Bay, you might want to think twice before saying naughty things about the guy who saved the franchise.

Ah, karma. Sweet, sweet, karma. Oh, and I am so glad I took the Vikings in this one? What bookmaker made the Packers a three-point favorite? Are you guys at Caesar's back to smoking crack?